Apparatus for collecting and saving metallic particles



(No Model.)

' J MILLER.

APPARATUS FOR- COLLECTING AND SAVING METALLIC PARTICLES.

No. 290,258; Patented De0'.18-, 1883."

PETERS Fhuto-Limo' hw. Walhingmn. n c

UN rTED STATES PATENT Ori ice,

JONATHAN MILLER, OF CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND SAVING METALLIC PARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,258, dated December18, 1883;

' Application filed May 16,1883. (N0 mam.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN MILLER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Conand exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is a general view of the apparatus, andFig. 2'is an end view of the straining device.

' My invention relates .to an improved apparatuswherebymetallicparticlessuch as flourgold, chlorides and carbonates ofsilver, &c., and other substances contained in, or floating upon thesurface ofwater-can be collected and saved, in a much more rapid,perfect, and economical manner than heretofore; and to this end itconsists in certain details of construction and combinations of devices,as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the said drawings, A is a closed chamber or receptacle, composed ofwood, metal,

or other suitable material of sufficient strength to withstand a heavypressure. This receptacle is provided on one side with an inlet-pipe, b,at the inner end of which, just within the receptacle A, is a strainer,0, while its outer end is provided with a screw-thread by means of whichthe conducting-pipe d for the water is secured thereto. Within the endof the receptacle A, opposite to the inlet-pipe b, is formed a largeopening or outlet, 6, which is covered by a perforated plate, f, maderemovable from the opening 6, and securely held in place by bars g, Fig.2, provided with suitable fastenings, or in any other convenient manner.The receptacle A is filled with sawdust h, or other equivalent porousground or loose material 'capable of expansion by moisture.

On the under side of the inlet-pipe b is a concave chamber, z, providedat the center with a discharge-aperture commanded by a valve or gate,is, by which construction any particles of matter which are prevented bythe strainer c from entering the receptacle A are deposited or fall backinto the chamber 2', from which they may be withdrawn from time to timeby opening the gate k, and the clogging or obstruction of the inlet-pipethus prevented. The water containing the metallic particles,

chlorides, carbonates, &c., or other substanceor substances is firstconducted by a sluice or trough, B, to a tank or reservoir, 0, providedwith a partition, Z, extending down ward from its top toward the bottom,the water first entering the portion or chamber m and thence flowingunder the partition Z up into the portion or chamber 02, the heavierparticles of matter contained in the water settling to the bottom of thereservoir, leaving only the lighter particles in the portion it. Fromthis portion a of the reservoir the water is drawn by a force-pump, D,of any suitable construction, the suction-pipe p of which is providedwith a strainer, q. The water is then forced by the pump D through thepipes (Z and 1) into and through the sawdust or equivalent porousmaterial h contained in the receptacle A, and discharged through theperforated plate f. As the water enters the receptacle A it is diffusedand evenly and uniformly distributed throughout the entire mass ofsawdust h, which at once commences to swell, the expansion thus-producedcausing the mass to exert a heavy outward pressure against all portionsof the interior of the receptacle A, within which the sawdust is thusclosely and tightly packed, so as to be held firmly and immovably inplace against any tendency of the water to distribute it, or to producea direct channel from the inlet to the outlet, the effect produced beingexactly the reverse of what would result from com pression, as theexpansion of the particles tends to enlarge them and open their pores,

leaving minute passages or interstices in all directions throughout themass for the flow of the water, which is thus finely divided up intovery minute globules, causing every particle of metal or othersubstances contained therein to be brought into contact with the roughfibers projecting from the particles of sawdust or other porous materialwhich project into the interstices,'and while they do not interfere withthe'flow of the water, yet serve to catch and retain the particles ofmetal or other sub stance therein; and consequently when the waterfinally escapes through the perforated plate f, it will have beendeprived of all metallic particles, chlorides, carbonates, or othersubstances which it may contain, which are thereby saved or collected,as required.

After the apparatus has been in use for the desired length of time,which will vary according to circumstances, the plate f is removed fromthe end of the receptacle A, and the sa\vdust or other porous materialemployed Withdrawn, after which, when the apparatus has been used forcollecting metal, it is burned or otherwise treated to secure the metalcontained therein.

Where the water containing the metallic pan ticles or other suhtancesflows from a snflicient elevation to produce the desired head, it isevident that the force-pump I) may be dispcused with.

JOXATHAN MILLER.

Witnesses:

N. L. Conmnnn, 0. l. Wransrnn.

